Curette.



N0. 707,03l. Patented Aug. I2, I902.

B. W. SPAULDING.

CURETTE.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1900.

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CHARLES \VALTER SPAULDING, OF CARROLL, IOWVA.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,031, dated August 12, 1902. Application filed August 11,1900. Serial No. z y 9 (N0 m del-l To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES VV ALTER SPAULDING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Carroll, in the county of Oarroll and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Curette, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to surgical instruments; and. its object is to provide a new and improved curette more especially designed for curetting the womb or removing any forcign morbid matter or growth from the womb or rectum in a simple manner and without inordinate pain to the patient.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement; and Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same; showing the upper end of the spiral bent out of alinement with the shank. Fig. 3 is a cross-section showing the groove on the inner and under side of the spiral. Fig. at shows the curette with the douche attachment.

From the handle Aextends a shank B, terminating in a spiral C, winding around the outer end B of the shank in an inward direction, the inner end of the spiral being united at C"to the shank B. The spiral 0 begins at an angular extension 13 0f the end B, and the outward curvature and inward bend of the beginning portion 0 of the spiral G is gradual to insure an easy entrance of the spiral into the womb or rectum and to allow the spiral to begin at once to draw the tool inward on the operator turning the handle. The return-bend C of the spiral is also very gradual, thus giving an oblong spherical shape to the outer end of the tool, approximately the shape of an olive. As the convolutions of thespiral are spaced far apart and the spiral is formed with the gradually-tapering portions and 0 as described, it is evident that the working end in passing into or out of the womb or rectum is not liable to unduly dilate or strain the walls of the womb or rectum at the entrances thereof. Thus by the arrangement described an easy and comparatively painless screwing of the spiral into the womb or rectum is obtained on the operator turning the handle accordingly, and by having the shank end B arranged as. a center post for the spiral any clots or foreign matter scraped from the inner surface of the womb by the spiral upon turning the instrument are readily wound around said center post and caused to adhere to the same when the instrument is withdrawn, the spiral and center post acting as a snare to hold and retain the foreign substances. For the purpose of scraping the parts operated upon I make a groove in the under and inner side of the spiral, so as to expose a blunt scraping edge upon that part of the spiral which is used as an operative surface. By arranging the spiral as described no sharp freeend'is formed and the edge exposed is of a kind creating no danger of injuring anyof the parts with which the spiral comes in contactduring the operation. The extreme upper end of the spiral being in the form of a crook and slightly out of alinement with the shank will when in use describe a circle covering the upper part of the fundus of the uterus, thereby enabling the instrument to reach and remove all foreign matter, causing the same to bunch together in the snare formed by the spiral and the shank and also causing suitably-shaped pieces of said foreign matter to twist around said shank. It will also be seen that in using the device the spiral does not unduly dilate the opening of the womb or rectum, but readily removes all foreign matter on the surface with which it comes in contact. The shank B may be made hollow for connection with a water-supply at the handle end and with perforations at the center post to permit of washing the scraped surface and removing every trace of foreign matter. The shank and the spiral may also be made hollow and provided with perforations for the escape of the liquid forced into the shank, the arrangement permitting the use of the tool as a douche or for medications or antiseptics. This form is shown in Fig. 4. The perforationsD D permit the escape of a medicated liquid, while the inner surface E E of the spiral is provided with a groove, as above described.

In all the forms above described the device presents no free ends, for'the reason that the spiral and shank are integrally secured together, so as to present a longitudinal member terminating in an endless loop, the loop being bent into the form of a spiral, as above stated.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A curette, comprising a shank and a spiral made from the shank extension, the shank and the outer end of the coils of the spiral being bent out of alinement sufficiently to secure easy entrance and enable the spiral to begin at once to draw on turning it into its place of use, the coils of the spiral being far enough apart to enable the curette to make its entrance with very little dilation of the parts, the spiralbeing at the end of the shank and enlarged to its greatest diameter, then decreased until it again enters the shank, being when complete, an instrument of oblong, oval shape, that will excavate a space of oblong oval shape, as set forth, both ends of the spiral being integral with the shank for the purpose of avoiding free ends.

2. A curette, comprising a hollow tubular,

perforated shank, and a spiral made from the shank extension, the shank and outer end of spiral being bent out of alinement sufficiently to secure easy entrance and enable the spiral to at once begin to draw the instrument on turning the handle into its place of use, the end of the shank forming a center post for the spiral, the perforation enabling the device to be used as a douche, the coils of said spiral being far enough apart to enable the curette to make easy entrance with little distention, and the spiral being decreased in size at the end of the shank and enlarged at its greatest diameter, then decreased until it again enters the shank, and when complete, is in shape an oblong oval in shape, as set forth. I

3. A curette as above described with a spiral constructed with a groove in the inner and under side so arranged that the outer corner will form a scraping edge.

4 A curette, comprising a handle, a member of spring metal secured thereto at one of its ends and terminating at its other end in an endless loop for the purpose of avoiding free ends, a part of said loop being spirally wound so as to present a general egg shape, and another portion of said loop being straight for the purpose of acting as a share.

5. A curette, comprising a handle, a member of spring metal secured by one of its ends thereto and terminating at its other end in an endless loop for the purpose of avoiding free ends, a portion of said loop being spirally wound into a general olive shape and provided with a scraping edge.

6. A curette, comprising a handle, and a member of spring metal mounted thereon and also terminating in an endless loop for the purpose of avoiding free ends, a part of said loop serving as an axis of rotation for another part of said loop, said other part being provided with a scraping edge.

7. A curette, comprising a handle, a member of spring metal secured thereto and terminating in an endless loop for the purpose of avoiding free ends, a part of said loop being straight and serving as an axis, and another part of said loop being provided with an operative edge and being wound around said part serving as an axis.

8. A curette, comprising a handle, and an endless loop of spring metal connected therewith, said loop consisting of a straight member and a spiral member bent into a general egg shape so as to surround said straight member, all partsof the apparatus being so constructed as to avoid free ends.

9. A curette, comprising a handle, a longitudinal member of spring metal connected therewith and terminating in an endless loop for the purpose of avoiding free ends, a part of said loop being straight and another part of said 100p being wound spirally around said straight part, said straight part extending entirely through said spirally-wound part.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES WALTER SPAULDIN G.

Witnesses:

WM. PATTERSON, N. WALTER SPAULDING. 

